by Padawan Calypte (mac_moms@postoffice.pacbell.net)
Series: Sequel to "Precocious Levitator", 'Lil Obi Series
Archive: Yes to M_A; Jedi-Apprentice (If you want it)
Category: "When Obi was a sprout"
Rating: G
Warnings: pre-TPM, IGNORES J-A books
Feedback: Any and all, please!!!
Notes: No beta. All errors are my own. Dedicated to my Master,
'lion Flame, who has ordered me to take care of myself. I will,
honest, I just had to write this, 'kay? [Can I be the keeper of
L'il Obi-Wan's Stories?]
Because he couldn't sleep, Master Jedi Yoda was following a
child who had somehow escaped the creche and now seemed to be
on its way to the Healing Center. The Force told Yoda the child
wasn't injured. Perhaps it was just exploring. Some children
were completely unafraid of being alone, even at night. Careful
not to tap his stick too loudly, he contnued his pursuit. A bit
older than a toddler, it seemed. At least, it wasn't falling
down every few steps.
Without warning, the child stopped and turned to face him. It
was the Kenobi child who had apparently adopted Qui-Gon Jinn.
Yoda waited. Eventually, the boy raised a hand and gestured for
Master Yoda to join him, chubby fingers curled. When Yoda
joined him, young Kenobi reached over and took one of Yoda's
hands in his own. "C'mon. Gotta go tella story."
One of his more interesting walks, this was, Yoda reflected, as
he was led energetically along toward the infirmary. Who was
sick? Qui-Gon it must be if Kenobi was visiting him at this
hour. He wondered what story the child would tell.
As they entered the room, Yoda watched the boy wave a hand
casually to turn on the light. Hmm. Watching, this one bore.
Letting go of the Jedi Master, the initiate pushed a chair up
to the side of the bed where Qui-Gon slept. Interesting, Yoda
mused. Use the Force for the lights because reach them he
can't, but push the chair -- because he can? Climbing up,
Obi-Wan unceremoniously pushed Qui-Gon's arm aside to make room
to sit on the bed. Yoda missed a bit of the action while he
levitated himself to the foot of the bed to watch.
Qui-Gon came awake with a sense of something more wrong than
the fever which had tormented him since his return from his
last mission. Blinking the blur from his eyes, he was stunned
to find himself eye-to-eye with Obi-Wan Kenobi. His further
discovery of Master Yoda on the foot of his bed convinced him
he was dreaming. Until the child spoke.
"Maaahstaah, I not sleep. Come tell you a story, 'kay?"
"Story?" Qui-Gon looked to Yoda for clarification, but the
bloody troll just shrugged and rolled his eyes. "What story?"
that seemed a safe enough question.
Obi-Wan smiled and cuddled confidently into the crook of
Qui-Gon's arm. "Story 'bout when I was sick."
"Very well." Qui-Gon cleared his throat and freed some of his
loose hair from under Obi-Wan's bottom. "I'm listening."
Face suddenly serious, Obi-Wan patted Qui-Gon's cheek. "You too
hot, big Maahstah. Need icy cream."
"Ahhh," Yoda commented. "Out, the truth will."
With a glare at Yoda, Qui-Gon encouraged, "First tell me the
story, Obi-Wan."
"Um, 'kay. I was this sick!" The little arms flew wide,
thwacking Qui-Gon's nose. While the sick Jedi rubbed his
painful proboscis, the little boy continued the tale. "I frew
up my dinner all ovah Maahstah Reeb. An' I fuhgot the little
'nitiate's room! An it all looked like a holovid but skippin',
y' know. But --" and master showman that he was, the child held
up one hand with the index finger aloft. "I had a sleep and
some icy cream, and got all better. See?" Enormously pleased
with himself, Obi-Wan clearly expected applause. Yoda laughed
his rough cackle, but Qui-Gon's lack of response began to cause
the boy concern. "Bad story?"
Slowly, Qui-Gon smiled. "No, little one. Very good story. And I
love icy cream, too." His tone dropped. "The creche master will
kill me."
For some reason, the child took it to heart. "No! Not kill! Not
kill!"
Gathering the boy up, Qui-Gon raised an eyebrow at his former
master. Silently, the old one informed him that Obi-Wan had
seen his family murdered by pirates on their way to bring him
to the Temple. Patting the child's back, crooning nonsense,
Qui-Gon waited until the sobs eased a bit before saying, It was
only a figure of speech, Obi-Wan. I am so sorry. I only meant
that Master Reeb will be angry if I give you icy cream at night
and you have nightmares. No one's going to kill me over an icy
cream."
Looking up to see the truth in the man's eyes, Obi-Wan finally
nodded. "'kay. Cause I rather not have icy cream if..."
Qui-Gon felt his eyes grow hot and had to blink a few times. He
pulled the boy close and rocked him. "Obi-Wan, thank you for
coming to visit me. A Jedi honors the Force by visiting the
sick, did you know that? I'm proud of you."
Leaning back to see Qui-Gon's face, Obi-Wan said, "Please, not
use figura speech, 'kay?"
Qui-Gon promised. "Would you like to stay with me tonight?
After the icy cream?"
When a small bowl of ice cream appeared before him, spoon in
place, Obi-Wan smiled at Yoda and mouthed his thanks even as
the little boy who had stolen his heart squealed and proceeded
to get as much ice cream in Qui-Gon's hair as he put into his
own mouth. Qui-Gon was not aware when Yoda left them alone. Nor
did he care that they hadn't cleaned up before they fell
asleep.
Strangely, in the morning, Qui-Gon's fever was gone.
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